Lubricating device



May 31, 1932. w. H. SOMMER 'LUBRICAIING DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1930 2Sheets-Sheet l y 1932- w. H. SOMMER LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 15,1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F WM wwmwmmn wnmw N.

Patented May 31, 1932 UNITEDSTATES WILLIAM H. somunn, orrnonra, ILLINOISLUBnroA'rmG DEVICE Application filed October .13, 19 30. Serial. No.488,361. g

p This invention hasreferenceto a lubricating device and it has for itsprincipal object to provide for the constant, efficient andeconomical'lubrication of wires during the formation of wirestrandsandalso the further lubrication of strands tion of a wire rope orcable. p

The invention has for a further object, in

I the manufacture of wire strands and also in inf ' of pressing thewires together in the formathe manufacture of rope orcable from suchstrands, to lubricate the individual wires with a lubricant heated to asuitable temperature, whereby under cooling action of the wire thelubricant will tend to harden around each wire so that, during theaction tion of the strands, the lubricant will fill all voids betweensuch individual wires;

furthermore, as the individual strands are closed into a rope or cablearound a hemp or manila center, a heated lubricant is simi larly appliedso as to fill all voids between such individual strands.

While I have stated that the invention is applicable when forming thestrands and also when forming a cable or rope from such strands, it isto be understood that, since each operation is a distinct operation, in

itself, there is no necessary joinder of such uses, but that theapplication of the lubricant may be single or collective, as operationsmay require.

The invention comprehends the use of a feeder for the lubricant which iscoupled to a preferably constant speed motor and pump, and with thedischarge of the feeder located at a point to properly feed thelubricant between the interstices of the wires as they are woven orcoiled into strands; the employment of heating means, as for instancesteam piping-arranged in a receptacle containing the lubricant, whichsaid receptacle isadapted to catch drippings from the feeder to be againcirculated therethrough; the use of a strainer through which thelubricant circulates to the pump and feeder and to a control forregulating the quantity and flow of the lubricant through the feeder;allof which said elements are assembled as a complete lubricating unitand readily attachduring the formaable to a stranding machine or to acable or rope machine. I

The term, lubricant as herein used has reference to any oil suitable forthe purposes herein intended and in particular to petrolatum. i

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings forming part of this description, illustrating apreferred embodiment of theinvention, in which Fig. 1 is a planviewillustrating a device embodying my invention, which 'is' shownassociated with a strand twisterand closing die, and 4 6 Fig. 2 is anelevation in cross-section, as the same would appear iftaken on the line22 ofFig. 1. r W I Like characters ofreference denote correspondingparts; throughout the figures.

The drawings disclose a twisting element, A of a stranding machine and aclosing die 13 adjustably supportedin relation to said twister. Fig. 2shows the action of the clos ing die on-the strand C as itis formed, bythe 75 twisting of the Wires a fed through thev twister and'thepreferred location of the dis? charge of the feeder to insurethe'lubricant reaching the individual stices of such'wires. The numberof wires 80 shown threaded through the twister is illuso trative only,as in practice there are, on the average, many more wires employed inthe strand than is shown.- y The, lubricating. unitcomprises theconstantspeed motor 1; the pump 2 geared there; to; the strainer 3through which the lubricant-must pass to the pump {the feeder 4leadingfrom the pump to preferably a point 7 immediately in front of theclosing die to insure a; proper oiling of theindividual wires; 3.control valve 5 to regulate the quantity andflow ofqthe lubricantthrough the feeders; a steam coil 6 connected with'a V suitable-sourc ofsupply and which is placed along and over the bottom of atank orrecepta'clefi which holds the lubricant andin which the pump, strainerand control are located and from which the feeder leads to its point'ofdischarge. The pan or recepta- 10G wires a and the inter- I cle 7 issuitably supported on the frame of the stranding machine or an auxiliarysuport thereon and the said pan or receptacle is located and of suchsize that any excess drippings or surplus lubricant which is not takenup by the wires will fall back into said pan or receptacle and berecirculated through the pump and feeder.

T e feeder 4 is shown, by dotted lines, as having a preferablyslip-joint connection with the pump to permit its detachment from thepump which it is desirable to do at the close of the day and when thepower to the motors is shut oflt'.

The valve 5 may beopened and allow the oil pumped through the pump 2 topass back into thepan or receptacle and also regulated and partiallyclosed so as to regulate the quantity and flow of the oil through thefeeder 4, and thus always insure feeding a maximum amount of oil thatthe wires and strand or cable will hold.

A feature of the herein described unit is, that when the device isadjusted it will operate constantly and without stoppage or attentionand until the attendant or operator wishes to stop it, and heating thelubricant b steam there is no fire hazard and by proding a comparativelylarge pan or receptaole catches all drippings and surplus oil which isconstantly recirculating. The only attention the device requires, is tosupply new lubricant as the old is used up.

Sto page of the stranding machine will not a cot the unit as it maycontinue in its operation, as it merely means a continuous circulationof the oil rom the pan, through the pump and feeder and back again andunti the stranding machine is again started up. Furthermore, nodifliculties are encountered with proper and effective lubrication atthe timeof threading the strandin machine and attaching the strand totheta 0 up, as the unit need not be stopped, but continue its 0 eration andthereby insure the entire stran throughout, being properly lubricated.

I have made mention of the facts that the device is applicable tocabling or rope machine, whereas the illustrations portray only its usein connection with a stranding machine, but since thecabling machine ismerely the twist' of a series of strands C into a rope or cab e, it willbe obvious to those skilled in the art that it will require nothing morethan mere mechanical adaptation to appl the unit to such acablingmachine.

, tI'claimis: y 1. An oiling unit for lubricating the wires of strandingand cabling machines, comprisin a container for the lubricant, a heatingC011 on the bottom of the container, a pump within the containerdisposed above said ,coi

a strainer connected with the inlet end of the pump, a feeder having adetachable conunit by the container, and means to mount the containerbeneath and in proximity to the points of closing of the Wires and withthe distributor disposed so that same will feed the lubricant to thewires at their points of closing.

3. An I oilingunit for lubricating the twisted, wires of stranding andcabling machines, including a lubricant container, a heater within thecontainer, a pump within the container, and a lubricant distributorconnected to the delivery end of the, pump whereby all of said elementsarecarrled as a'unit by the container, and means to mount the containerbeneath andin proximity to the points-of closing of the wires and withthe distributor disposedso that same will feed the lubricant to thewires at their oints of closing, said container bein of a ength so thata part thereof projects beyond the point of application of the'lubricantand being located closely adjacentto such point, so that any excessofdistributed lubricant will gravi

